Apparatus for drying eggs.



{No. 757,347; PATBNTED APR. 12, 1904.

A. D. ROBINSON.

v APPARATUS FOR DRYING EGGS.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 25, 1903. v no MODEL. 7 a SHEETS-SHEET 1.

rm: NORRIS PETERS co. wgmoumou WASHINGTON u. C

No. 757,347. PATENTED APR. 12, 1904.

N A. D. ROBINSON.

APPARATUS FOR DRYING EGGS.

. APPLIOATION FILED MAY 25, 1903. N0 MODEL.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.-

, N .w ..a.

No. 757,347. PATENTED APR. 12, 1904.

A. D. ROBINSON.

APPARATUS FOR DRYING EGGS.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 25, 1903.

110 110mm. 7 a sums-sum s.

"m: NORRIS Pm'ns 00., PHOIOLITMO. WASHINGTON, D c

UNITED STATES Patented April 12, 1904.

PATENT OFFICE.

ARTHUR D. ROBINSON, OF ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI.

APPARATUS FOR DRYING EGGS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 757,347, dated April12, 1904.

Application filed May 25, 1903. Serial No. 158,765. (Ne model.)

the accompanying drawings, forming a part hereof.

My invention relates to an apparatus for drying eggs; and it consists ofthe novel construction, combination, and arrangement of partshereinafter shown, described, and claimed.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a side elevation of my apparatus with apart in section.

Fig. 2 is a top plan view with a part in section. Fig. 3 is a detailperspective View of one of the drying-pans. Fig. 4c is a transversevertical section tak'en on the line 1 1 of Fig. 1.

The object of my invention is to construct an apparatus for dryingdesiccated eggs, the principal advantages of my apparatus over othersnow in use being a construction whereby a greater percentage of moisturemay be expelled from the egg, thus preventing the egg from turningrancid. Another advantage is economy of floor-space, as my apparatus hasa greater drying-surface, and therefore a greater capacity on lessfloor-space than any other driers in use, so far as I am informed. Then,again, by my apparatus no heavy or expensive machinery is required.Then, again, economy of help is brought about, as only a few persons arerequired to operate my apparatus. Another advantage is cleanliness.

My apparatus is composed of units 'or drying-compartments entirelyindependent of each other, and there is no danger of spoiling a largequantity of eggs by "getting a musty egg in a batch. Then, again, by myimproved drier the hot air is confined in the apparatus and not blowninto the room, thus making the work of the operators much easier andmore agreeable.

Other points of advantage over the present driers now in use will bepointed out in connection with the detailed description of my apparatus.

In terms my invention consists of a main drying-compartment, partitionspartly forming subcompartments having a common source of hot-air supplyand having a common exhaust-pipe, drying-pans adapted to complete saidsubcompartments, doors opening into said subcompartments, an exhaust-fanin said exhaust-pipe, and gauzes in said subcompartments between thedoor and the pan.

Referring to the drawings, 1 indicates suitable supporting-sills, onwhich my drier is supported and built.

2 indicates the floor or bottom of my apparatus, which is constructedout of flooring or any suitable material; 3, the top, which is likewiseconstructed, and 4 the ends, which are likewise constructed.

I have shown my apparatus having two drying-compartments 5 and 6, thesame being identical in construction. In this connection I wouldstatethat I may construct my device having one or a series ofdrying-compartments,depending, of course, upon the capacity of drierdesired. The drying-compartments 5 and 6 are lined with galvanized iron7 Each compartment 5 and 6 is provided with a pair of glass doors 8,through which the drying process may be observed without opening thedoors. Said doors are hinged to the apparatus in a suitable andmechanical manner. It may be noted in this connection that the oppositeside of the drying apparatus is also provided with a pair of doors, suchas 8, for the same purpose, and also that dryingpans may be removed fromboth sides of the apparatus.

9 indicates a two-by-four studding, which is located on the inside ofthe drying apparatus and to which is fastened a series of angleirons 10.

Passing transversely across the drying-compartment is a series of woodenor metallic pieces 11, the function of which will be hereinafterdescribed.

The drying-compartment 5 is provided with a series of exhaust-Hues 12,13, 1 1, 15, 16, and 17. These exhaust flues or openings extendtransversely of the drying compartment. They are formed by usingsheet-iron deflectors 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, and 23. The fines or openingsheretofore mentioned answer as an exhaust or exit for, the hot air fromthe drier. Aside from the flues heretofore mentioned eachdrying-compartment is provided with heat-distributing openings 24, 25,26, 27, 28, and 29. These heat-distributing openings, which lead intothe drying-compartments, are formed by using sheet-metal sheets 30, 31,32, 33, 34, and 35. The openings 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, and 29, which Ihave referred to as heatdistributing openings, conduct and distributethe heat from where it is generated into. the drying-compartments 5 and6. It will be noticed in this connection that the openings or flues 12,13, 14, 15, 16, and 17 lie in alinement with the heat conducting anddistributing openings 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, and 29.

31 indicates a series of drying-pans which are stamped out ofsheet-steel, being perfectly flat, free from buckles, and slightlysunken and having around their edgesafive-sixteenth welded-steel rodrolled in around the edge. In the apparatus shown thedrying-compartments 5 and 6 have four tiers of such pans; but theapparatus may be so constructed as to have any number of tiers and anynumber of pans in a tier. These pans are supported in thedrying-compartments 5 and 6 by means of the angle irons 10. In Fig. 1 Ihave shown eight drying-pans in each tier in proper position. When thepans are located as illustrated in Fig. 1, it will be seen that by theuse of the wooden or metallic strips 11 a continuous and separatepassage or compartment is formed from the opening 26 to the opening 14,and by the employment of pans of an imperforate construction and thestrips 11 I form in the drying-compartments 5 and 6 separate andindependent drying-compartments and continuous passages between theopenings 12, 13, 14., 15, 1e, and 17 and 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, and 29. Bythis construction should a bad egg be placed in one compartment bymistake the eggs in the other compartments will not be at all affected.In other words, the compartments 5 and 6 are subdivided by the insertionof' the drying-pans 31' in the proper places, and, furthermore, saidcompartments are cleared by removing said pans or to any desired extentby removing a part of the pans, there being no other shelving orpartitions to remove. The drying-pans 31 may be inserted and removedfrom elther side of the drying-compartments.

32' indicates a wire-gauze which prevents the dry eggs located on thepans 31 from being drawn out of the drying-compartment by the exhaust.This gauze creates a resistance to the air, thereby equalizing thepressure of the air-draft between the different subcompartments;otherwise there might be a strong draft through one compartment andlittle or no draft in another compartment. This resistance is especiallyimportant when a door is opened, as without the resistance a strong colddraft would rush in through the open door. The finer the gauze thebetter the regulation or equalization of draft.

33 indicates steam-pipes by which the desired amount of heat may begenerated. The heat generated by said steam-pipes is conducted into thedrying apparatus by means of a pipe 34. The heat generated by thesteampipes 33 passes up through the pipe 34 and is fed and distributedinto the drying-compartments, as heretofore described.

35 indicates a powerful exhaust-fan, by means of which the hot airgenerated by the steam-pipes 33 is drawn through and exhausted from thedrying apparatus. Said exhaustfan 35 may be operated by a small motor.

36 indicates a pipe which connects the casing of the exhaust-fan withthe drying-compartments. When the air has been drawn through thedryingcompartment from its source of generation, it passes out of thedryir g-compartment through the openings 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, and 17 andthrough the pipe 36. Located in the pipe 36 is a damper 37, by means ofwhich the exhaust is regulated. In the construction shown the air isdrawn from the heating or steam pipes by means of the exhaust-fan 35 andhalf passes through the drying compartment 5 and the other half throughthe drying-compartment 6.

In drying eggs by my improved apparatus the eggs are first broken andplaced onto the drying-pans 31 and evenly distributed over the same bymeans of a brush or any other suitable appliance. The pans are locatedafter being filled as heretofore stated, and the air is drawn over theeggs through the dryingcompartments. By passing the air over the eggs-bymeans of a powerful exhaust-fan I have found by practical experiencethat all the moisture desired may be expelled from the egg.

In an apparatus for drying eggs where the heat is forced into thedrying-compartment by means of a blower it is almost impossible touniformly distribute hot air and to control the same. In my apparatus,where the hot air is drawn over the eggs in the drying-compartment bymeans of an exhaust-fan or suction, the heat can be uniformlydistributed and easily controlled. Then, again, it is frequentlynecessary in the drying operation to open one of the doors of thedrying-compartment, and when this is done where a blower is used the dryparts of an egg are liable to be blown out into the room, whereas if asuction or exhaust is used the dry particles of the. egg are not blowninto the room, but retained in the drying-compartment, and consequentlysaved. The gauze 32 is of great value in creating a resistance to theair, thereby equalizing the air-pressure in the various compartments. Ialso desire to emphasize the importance of the manner of subdividing thecompartments 5 and 6. The subcompartments are so constructed that theyare only complete When the pans are in place, and when the pans areremoved the subdivisions practically disappear. This is a greatadvantage over a construction in Which the subcompartments arepermanently formed by imperforate shelving or even by removableshelving, because my construction saves the time and expense of puttingin and taking out the shelving.

Having fully described my invention, What I claim as new, and desire tohave secured to me by the grant of Letters Patent, is

1. An apparatus for drying eggs, comprising a drying-compartment,partitions subdi-. viding said compartment into subcompartments having acommon source of hot-air supply and having a common exhaust-pipe, asuction-fan in said exhaust-pipe, doors opening into saidsubcompartments, and gauze in said subcompartments stretched across thepassage-Ways leading to the fan to equalize the draft pressure throughsaid subcompartments, substantially as specified.

2. An apparatus for drying eggs, comprising a main drying-compartment,partitions partly forming subcompartments having a common source ofhot-air supply and having a common exhaust-pipe, a suction-fan in saidexhaust-pipe, drying-pans adapted to complete said subcompartments,doors opening into said subcompartments, and gauzes in saidsubcompartments stretched across the passage-Ways leading to the fan toequalize the draft-pressure through said subcompartments, substantiallyas specified.

In testimony whereof I have sign ed my name to this specification inpresence of tWo subscribing Witnesses.

ARTHUR D. ROBINSON.

Vitnesses:

M. G. IRION, JOHN C. HIGDON.

